Heucherella Plant Named &#39;Mojito&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Heucherella  plant substantially as shown and described, characterized by spring leaves of yellow with a strong red pattern in the center of the leaves, along the veins, summer through winter leaves yellow green with the strong red center, palmately lobed leaves, small white flowers on short flower stalks, medium plant size with multiple crowns, and excellent vigor.

BOTANICAL DENOMINATION

Heucherella

VARIETY DESIGNATION

‘Mojito’

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHeucherella and given the cultivar name of ‘Mojito’. Heucherella is inthe family Saxifragaceae. Heucherella ‘Mojito’ originated from a wholeplant mutation of Heucherella ‘Buttered Rum’, U.S. Plant patentapplication Ser. No. 13/507,935.

Compared to Heucherella ‘Buttered Rum’, the new cultivar has yellow tolime as the basic leaf color rather than orange amber to red brown.

Compared to Heucherella ‘Golden Zebra’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,104), thenew cultivar has a denser habit with multiple crowns, fewer lobes, andshorter flower spikes.

This new Heucherella is distinguished by:

1. spring leaves of yellow with a strong red pattern in the center ofthe leaves, along the veins,

2. summer through winter leaves yellow green with the strong red center,

3. palmately lobed leaves,

4. small white flowers on short flower stalks

5. medium plant size with multiple crowns, and

6. excellent vigor.

This new cultivar has been reproduced only by asexual propagation(division and tissue culture). Each of the progeny exhibits identicalcharacteristics to the original plant. Asexual propagation by divisionand tissue culture using standard micropropagation techniques withterminal and lateral shoots, as done in Canby, Oreg., shows that theforegoing characteristics and distinctions come true to form and areestablished and transmitted through succeeding propagations. The presentinvention has not been evaluated under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environmentwithout a change in the genotype of the plant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a 9-month-old Heucherella ‘Mojito’ in a one galloncontainer in the greenhouse in spring in Canby, Oreg.

FIG. 2 shows a one-year-old Heucherella ‘Mojito’ in the garden in theshade in summer in Canby, Oreg.

DETAILED PLANT DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the new Heucherella cultivarbased on observations of one and a half-year-old specimens growing inthe garden in Canby, Oreg. Canby is Zone 8 on the USDA Hardiness map.Temperatures range from a high of 95 degrees F. in August to an averageof 32 degrees F. in January. Normal rainfall in Canby is 42.8 inches peryear. The color descriptions are all based on The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, fifth edition, 2007.

-   Plant:    -   -   Form.—basal rosette, herbaceous perennial.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 4 to 9.        -   Size.—28 cm tall from top of the foliage to the ground and            48 cm wide.        -   Habit.—mounding.        -   # of crowns.—about 40.        -   Vigor.—excellent.        -   Roots.—fibrous, freely branching, fine, and white in color.            Roots develop easily from cuttings.-   Leaf:    -   -   Type.—simple.        -   Arrangement.—rosette.        -   Shape.—ovate.        -   Lobing/division.—5 lobes palmately parted with the terminal            the longest and most deeply parted, each with distinctly cut            secondary lobes (the depth of the lobes varies with plant            maturity and leaf age; leaves become more deeply lobed with            maturity).        -   Venation.—palmate, veins Yellow Green 144A on topside, 148C            on bottom side.        -   Margins.—broadly crenate, older leaves undulate or twist            slightly.        -   Apex.—mucronulate.        -   Base.—cordate.        -   Blade size.—grows to 11.5 cm long and 11 cm wide.        -   Surface texture.—glandular both surfaces.        -   Petiole description.—grows to 17 cm long and 2 mm wide,            glandular hairs, Yellow Green 147C.        -   Leaf color.—spring, topside, closest to Yellow Green 151 B            with pattern Greyed Purple 187B, bottom side Yellow Green            151 B with the pattern Greyed Purple 183A; summer through            winter topside Yellow Green 144A with pattern Greyed Purple            187B, bottom side Yellow Green 146C with pattern Greyed            Purple 187B.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Size.—grows to 2.3 cm wide and 10 cm long.        -   Type.—raceme.        -   Number of flowers per raceme.—about 60.        -   Number of raceme.—20.        -   Peduncle.—grows to 20 cm tall, 2 mm wide at base, Yellow            Green 147C, glandular hairs.        -   Pedicel.—variable, with glandular hairs, Yellow Green 145B.        -   Bloom period.—May in Canby, Oreg.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Size.—2 mm wide and 3 mm long.        -   Description.—glandular puberulent, ovoid.        -   Color.—White NN155C.-   Flower:    -   -   Type.—imperfect.        -   Shape.—campanulate.        -   Size.—4 mm deep and 5 mm wide.        -   Petal description.—5 in number, lanceolate, 4 mm long and 1            mm wide, some reflexed, tip acuminate, base attenuate,            margin entire, glabrous on both sides, White NN155D on both            sides.        -   Calyx description.—4 mm deep and 2 mm wide, with 5 lobes,            divided ¾ way to the base, campanulate, glandular hairs on            outside, glabrous inside, tip obtuse, margin entire, NN155D            on both sides.        -   Stamen description.—none.        -   Pistil description.—one central two beaked pistil, 4 mm long            and 2 mm wide, White NN155D.        -   Fragrance.—none.        -   Lastingness.—each raceme blooms for about 2 weeks on the            plant.-   Fruit and seed: none-   Disease and pest tolerance: The new cultivar is typical to the    genus. No known resistances to pests or diseases. No problems have    been found in Canby, Oreg.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Heucherella plant as herein illustratedand described.